Responding to an oracle on seeking out love in all of its manifestations… by Leah Jorgensen

Day 139: Cartoons, Errands, A Pulled Muscle & Aleve

There are some days when we just get up, run errands, go about our days doing, doing, doing that we miss moments. I try to have some “me” time during the weekends. It often feels like there’s so much to do that I don’t get to just be in the moment. This morning, I woke up and sat on the sofa with my kitties and watched cartoons. Yup. That’s right. I felt entitled to revert to my childhood on Saturday mornings. I used to live for Saturday Morning Cartoons – the Snorks, Disney’s Adventures of the Gummy Bears and the Smurfs especially (circa 1985). Sadly, this had died since kids today can watch cartoons any day, any time on cable. Children of the early 80’s would wait all week for Saturday morning and would grab a bowl of our favorite candied cereal, like Count Chocula, Apple Jacks or Cap’n Crunch Berries, and veg out all morning long in cartoon glory. I sometimes miss those days. Kids today don’t really have this kind of anticipation, this kind of jewel in the crown. They can watch cartoons online, even. No waiting, no anticipation. I feel sorry for them.

In any case, I did catch one adorable cartoon this morning called Jane and the Dragon. It’s an interesting, intelligent show about a medieval girl who is being raised as a Lady-in-waiting, only she has plans to be a squire and a knight. Her best friend is a fire-breathing dragon. The animation is pretty cool, the characters are smart and funny, and it’s about the most positive role model for girls I have EVER seen in cartoon.

After this, I got up and went to the post office to send off dad’s belated birthday present; then, I went to Safeway to drop off a couple of prescriptions; and finally I drove over to Whole Foods to use a gift card my mom had sent me. She’s very thoughtful like that. She’ll just send me gift cards for no occasion – she understands how expensive my gluten-free diet is and tries to help me out a little – which is huge to me. Very thoughtful and generous. My parents still spoil me.

In any case, I spent a couple of hours there! I got some great risottos, mac and cheese, cookies, pretzels, frozen waffles and soup – all gluten free. After, I did a nice yoga program but ended up with a slight pull in my lower back. At 6:15 p.m. I took a couple Aleve pills and hit the sofa. I woke up at 10:00 p.m. groggy, realizing that Aleve isn’t the best pain killer for me. It knocked me out. I was supposed to go bowling with friends but missed my whole evening.

Such is life. The lesson learned, sometimes a little muscle pull is what you need to slow down, rest, relax and have your much needed “me” time. I try not to go out both nights on the weekend, it just gets too exhausting. And even though I wanted to go bowling, it seems like the Aleve was giving me a different option – to stay put. As weird as it was to get knocked out by my over-the-counter pain killer, I am glad I stayed in and got some snuggle time in with my kitties.